Crock Pot Barbecue Meatballs -Italian Style!

Crock pot barbecue meatballs is so simple to do, it’s delicious and really easy to prepare variations to the theme.

I have a traditional barbecue recipe if you prefer but in this recipe I’ve chosen to go for Italian style. Essentially I’m easing off on the vinegar element to a traditional barbecue sauce and going heavy on the garlic, olive oil and basil.

Note: Crock pot cooking will not brown food because the cooking temperature is below 150°C when the Maillard reaction takes place. In order to get some caramelization onto the meatballs I've chose to pan fry them prior to putting them in the slow cooker.

I’ll do make up my crock pot barbecue meatballs first and then add the sauce option on after. Hope you like it!

Serves:- 8 people

Preparation Time:- 30 minutesCooking Time:- 6 hours

Total Time:- 6 hours 30 minutes

Allergens:

Gluten - breadcrumbs, flour and Worcestershire sauce

Egg - beaten egg

Fish - Worcestershire sauce

Ingredients:-

1Kg / 2.2 lbs ground beef

1 onion finely chopped1

clove garlic finely chopped

100g / 4 oz breadcrumbs

1 beaten free range egg

1 teaspoon dried basil

½ teaspoon salt

½ teaspoon pepper

2 tablespoons plain flour

1 tablespoon olive oil

Sauce Ingredients:-

1 400g or 14oz can chopped tomatoes

2 tablespoons olive oil

1 teaspoon sugar

1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce

A handful of fresh basil, chopped

A splash of Tabasco

Salt and freshly ground black pepper

Method:-

Throw all the ingredients for the meatballs (with the exception of the flour and olive oil) into a bowl, get stuck in with your hands and give it a good mulch around. Make sure that the egg is fully mixed in because this will help bind the meatballs together.

Place a frying pan over medium heat and add the tablespoon of olive oil. Now shape the mix into the meatballs, roll them in the flour and pop them into a frying pan for 5 minutes. Move the meatballs around in the pan to ensure that they get browned all over.

You don't actually need to make up the sauce in advance, just place all the sauce ingredients in your crock pot and give it a gentle stir. Don't worry if the sugar hasn't quite dissolved, it will do during the cookout.

Now place the meatballs in the crock pot and cook for six hours on “low” setting.